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Cardboard Edison

Game design & bright ideas for game designers

Bright Ideas

Tips & Resources for Board Game Designers

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    • Cobras
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    • More Games
    • Prototypes
  • Free Resources/
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July 26, 2019 July 26, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Reconsidering what makes a decision meaningful:

http://www.kindfortress.com/2019/07/25/playful-thoughts-meaningful-decisions/

July 26, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

July 26, 2019 July 26, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Thoughts on making games easier for players to learn through rules, components and presentation:

https://hollandspiele.com/blogs/hollandazed-thoughts-ideas-and-miscellany/thoughts-on-making-games-easier-to-learn

July 26, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
rules

Cardboard Edison

July 26, 2019 July 26, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Game designers discuss whether they think about any messages their game is sending to players:

https://design100.org/25-messages/#

July 26, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

July 26, 2019 July 26, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
“Write down notable quotes from players. You can refer back to them during postgame discussion.”
— John Brieger
July 26, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

July 24, 2019 July 24, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Phil Walker-Harding discusses how to make games that are accessible to a wide range of players, making a living as a board game designer, working with publishers, and more:

https://www.boardgameatlas.com/forum/WbnHpdyNiO/why-phil-walkerharding-created-a-game-about-sushi-a-look-at-sushi-go-imhotep--more

July 24, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
theory, industry, process

Cardboard Edison

July 24, 2019 July 24, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

A discussion on the psychology of cheating in board games (audio):

https://boardgamersanonymous.com/engn-episode-146/

July 24, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
podcasts, theory, rules

Cardboard Edison

July 23, 2019 July 23, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
“As a game’s inventor, I’m the LEAST qualified to have final approval on its rulebook. Always get multiple eyes on it before going to press, especially if it’s a small rulebook.”
— Daniel Solis
July 23, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
rules

Cardboard Edison

July 23, 2019 July 23, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
“Pay attention to the whining of your testers. Even if they are objectively wrong, their emotional human response is a prophecy to the emotional human responses of your future customers.”
— Grant Rodiek
July 23, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

July 19, 2019 July 19, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
“There’s a difference between providing players advice and taking their moves for them / telling them what to do.”
— John Brieger
July 19, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

July 19, 2019 July 19, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

How do retailers feel about Kickstarter?

https://stonemaiergames.com/the-current-state-of-retailers-and-kickstarter-2019/

July 19, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
publishing, industry

Cardboard Edison

July 18, 2019 July 18, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Some tips on attending and starting local game design guilds and how those groups help designers (audio):

https://www.buzzsprout.com/7928/1330495

July 18, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
podcasts, playtesting, industry

Cardboard Edison

July 18, 2019 July 18, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Tips on making a worker-placement game (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/designing-worker-placement-games-with-luke-laurie/

July 18, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
podcasts, process, theory

Cardboard Edison

July 18, 2019 July 18, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Dr. Lauren Woolsey, host of the Playability Podcast and professor of astronomy joins the Breaking Into Board Games Cast and offers tips on pitching, contests and playtesting (audio):

http://breakingintoboardgames.libsyn.com/breaking-into-board-games-episode-96-dr-lauren-woolsey

July 18, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
podcasts, industry, contests

Cardboard Edison

July 18, 2019 July 18, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Rules can make or break a game. Here are some tips for including rules on your components for ease of play (audio):

http://thegamecrafter.libsyn.com/rules-on-components-with-the-game-crafter-episode-196

July 18, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
podcasts, prototyping, rules

Cardboard Edison

July 17, 2019 July 17, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
“It’s natural for players to want have discussions or make comments midgame as issues emerge. Develop a sense as a moderator for when to cut off those conversations and refocus players back to gameplay.”
— John Brieger
July 17, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

July 15, 2019 July 15, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

A look at competitive games that feature collective challenges that players must jointly overcome:

http://www.kindfortress.com/2019/07/15/design-patterns-this-is-bigger-than-all-of-us/

July 15, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

July 15, 2019 July 15, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

How to incorporate feedback into a design, even after receiving conflicting opinions:

http://design100.org/24-feedback/

July 15, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

July 13, 2019 July 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Takeaways from a large survey of tabletop gamers and their preferences:

https://www.manchestergamestudies.org/blog/2019/7/9/the-games-we-play

July 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
industry

Cardboard Edison

July 13, 2019 July 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
“If you’ve never signed a board game publisher contract before, before you do, show it to someone who has. Blur the names, whatever, but don’t get screwed over and lose your idea because you’re a novice.”
— Grant Rodiek
July 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
licensing

Cardboard Edison

July 13, 2019 July 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Motivating players by setting up goals for them to achieve:

https://twitter.com/KevinWilson42/status/1148392478564847616

July 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

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